In The News

NABET Asks Viewers in Four Cities To 'Turn Off NBC'

With talks still stalled two months after their contract expired, NABET-CWA members at NBC-Universal are turning up the heat and asking viewers in four major cities to turn off NBC and its local stations where members work.

Some 50 NABET-CWA and CWA members in New York leafleted in front of the Today Show studio as the morning program aired. "Our mobile billboard made the rounds in front of the audience, and some of our more ambitious supporters went right up to the glass behind Matt Lauer during the show with some pretty good signage," NABET Vice President Jim Joyce said.

The other cities with NABET contracts with NBC network and local stations are Washington, D.C., Chicago and Burbank, Calif. The contract covers 2,500 workers.

NABET-CWA is working for a fair contract that benefits members, the company and viewers. "Unfortunately, there has been no sign from NBC-U that it will do the right thing for its workers. While claiming the current economy is driving the posture that has brought us to the bargaining table, NBC-U and GE are still posting profits. Nonetheless, the company seems determined to remove job security, reduce compensation and subcontract work," the union said.

NBC is pushing to create a non-union job title for work that union members have been doing for decades. It also plans to close some operations in New York City and Burbank and transfer the work to a non-union facility in New Jersey.

The union is asking New Yorkers and viewers in Washington, D.C, Chicago and Burbank, Calif., to "Turn off NBC" and local stations.

Senate Confirms Former AFA-CWA President to National Mediation Board

Flight attendants and other airline employees now have a strong advocate for workers' rights with the Senate's confirmation of former AFA-CWA President Linda Puchala as a new member of the National Mediation Board. She was sworn in as Chairman on May 26.

AFA-CWA President Pat Friend said Puchala's "experience and vast commitment to workers' rights and the collective bargaining process will help restore the integrity of this vital federal agency."

"For years, the NMB has operated under arcane and unreasonable rules that make it difficult for workers to organize and bargain contracts," said Friend. "We look forward to working with Ms. Puchala to ensure that the NMB adheres to its mission of protecting employees' right to engage in free and fair collective bargaining in the airline industry."

More Workers Organize Through Majority Sign Up

Pay and health care were among the issues that former Dobson Communications technicians at AT&T Mobility in Michigan cited as a big part of their decision to join CWA through majority sign up. CWA District 4 Vice President Seth Rosen said the wage and benefit package CWA had negotiated at Mobility was a big factor for the Michigan technicians.  

The techs were supported by CWA Locals 4100 and 4108, and overwhelmingly, workers backed a union voice — 20 of the 21 technicians signed authorization cards supporting CWA representation.

Since last August, more than 600 of the former Dobson Communications workers — customer service representatives, retail sales workers and technicians — have chosen CWA representation.

In another organizing campaign decided by majority sign up, 29 dispatchers and fare collectors at New Jersey Transit, the state's public transportation corporation, gained representation with CWA Local 1032, said District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton. 

In Arlington, Wash., a group of workers at Roads West Inc., a telecom company, won representation by CWA Local 7803 when they gave their employer a list showing 100 percent support for a union voice. In Lebanon Communications in Lebanon, Ohio, 19 of 26 technicians signed up for a CWA voice with Local 4400.